Colored sheet material and method of producing the same



April 12 1927.

COLORED SHEET MATERIAL AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME T. M. ATKINSONFiled sept. e. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 12 192.7.

T. M. ATKINSON COLORED `SHEET MATERIAL IAND METHOD oF PRoDUING THE SAMEv Filed'sept. e, 1925 2 sheets-snm 2 Patented Apr. 12, 1927.-

PATENT oFFicE.

THOMAS M. ATKINSON, F MILLTOWN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE ROYSTON IPAIER COMPANY, OF MILLTOWN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

COLORED SHEET MATERIAL AND METHOD 0F PRODUCIN G THE SAME.

Application filed September 9,1925. Serial No. 55,354.

My invention aims to provide an iniproved colored web or strip of sheetmaterial, more particularly paper, and method or process of producingthe same, the present invention being an improvement upon the method andarticle disclosed in my Pate-nt- 1,47 5,923, dated November 27, 1923.

In the drawings illustrating one form of apparatus for practicing mymethod or proc- 0 ess and showing also one form of vcolored sheetmaterial embodying my invention:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in cross section;

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing a portionof 5 an untreated strip ofmaterial;

Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views illustrating intermediate steps in theprocess; u

Fig. 5 shows one form ofthe finished product. 0 In my patent abovementioned there is disclosed and claimed anI apparatus for and method ofproducing colored sheet material. such as paper and particularly-thattype of colored paper previously produced by hand 5 dipping and commonlyknown as colored nature papers. The roll 'of untreated paper in saidpatent may be white or colored but preferably is of uniform colorthroughout and the resulting paper is also uniform 1n l shade and tonethroughout its entire length. In accordance with my present inventionthe sheet material or paper is given a basic or body color Which isuniform but in which appear any desired configurations in differ- 5 entor contrasting color or colors in or apparent through the basic color.The designs or configurations may be variously ap plied prior'to thedyeing operation and in any suitable manner, as by printing,lithographing, photogravure, stamping, or thel like, and in Figs. 3 and4 I have illustrated one method of pre-forming said colored areas.

In Fig. f2 lv have represented a portion of a l strip or web of plainsheet material 6, herein paper, which may be white or any othervsuitable color. Said plain colored, or uncoll ored web is passedbetween a pair of printing rolls, of which the upper roll 35 appears inFig. 3. Said rolls are adapted to print be passed between a second colorcontrasting with that previously apf plied, are formed of bronze, gold,silver, or other metallic or lustrous coloring materials or theirsubstitutes. In some places the metallic or lustrous areas may overliethe colored sections previously applied, While in other places they maybe applied directly to the material, the arrangement and form of thevaious configurations being in accordance with the whim of theindividual manufacturer. As in Fig. 3, the configurations may be imposedon both faces of 'the material, but ordinarily one face only isconfigurated, and if desired only the metallic or lustrous colored areasmay be applied.

The'strip material or paper with the conu l n s n f\ igurations imposed,eitlierin a single and preferably metallic color or in a plurality ofcolors, may be rewound into roll form or may be passed directly from theprinting or other color applyingmeans to the dyeing apparatus. The lateris preferably of the type disclosed and claimed in my said patent andherein sufficiently illustrated to afford a lcomplete' understandingthereof.-

l Referring to Fig. 1, said apparatus includes a frame-Work 1 comprisingthe spaced uprights 2. 2, etc. At the left said uprights Vsupport aholder or univinding roller 3 upon which the paper previously prepared,as in 'the niannervabove described, is rotatably supported, when in Tollform. or acrosswhich it passes if it is to be passed directly from theprinting for: design applying apparatus to the bath of dye. To the rightof said roller 3 said uprights support a series of stretcher or ironingrollers 5, 5, 'the strip or run of material 6 being passed respectivelyunder v and over alternate rollers. Beyond the Ansuch as alcohol. To thesolution may be added a small proportion of glycerine, ap-

A proximately five per cent, to give the desired flexibility to thecoloredpaper.

Upon emergin from the tank the dyed material is passe between a pair ofadjustable pressure rollers 10, 11, the pressure of which may beregulated tocontrol the amount of dye to be squeezed out and returned'tothe tank along the apron 19.

The web of material or paper is then dried, preferably by being passedthrough a hot air box or oven 20. The air in said oven is maintained ata constant heat by l the inflow of heated air from the inlets 21,

heated air being supplied from a suitable source, not shown. The oven isrovided in its upper surface with a suitab e outlet and exhaust pipe 22for conductin away the foul air and gases. The colore paper or webtravels continuously through the oven and passes above a roller 23journalled in the rear wall thereof. The extent and rate .of travel andthe degree of heat are such that the )paper will have been entirelydried. before .arriving at said roller 23. It

is thus apparent that the moist dyed web after leaving the ressurerollers 10 and 11 has no' contact wit any supporting or .other surfaceuntil said oughly dried.

sheet material is passed through a series of cooling lchambers 24. Theair in said chambers may be kept in motion by a blower 33 to aid in tliecooling. When Asuch blower is employedthe chambers 24 desirably areprovided with inter-communicating openings (not1` shown) in the lower'portions thereof, the outer wall of thei outermost "chamber 24 having asimilar opening for the exit of the cooling air. Near the top and thebot-tom, of each of said cooling 'chambers are rotatably mounted thecoolin `chamber rollers 25. The strip of materia is` festooned aboutsaid cooling rollers v, through successive uchambers and is finally ledout and wound upon the rewinding roller 26'rotat-ably mounted in asuitable standard 27.

A suitable source of power such as an electric motor 28 is provided.having a driving connection, shown as a lbelt 29, with a l pulley uponthe shaft of the lower pressure roller 11. Said pulley 30 also'supportsonepaper has been thor-- f its heretofore objectionable characteristics,Beyond the drying oven the runpof dyed end of abelt 3l leading to therewinder 26 and passing about a pulley 32 coaxial with the same. Therewinder and the pressure rollers are thus driven at the same relativespeed causing the run of sheet material to be drawn evenly at a constantrate past the ironing rollers 5, through the bath of dye, between thepressure rollers, through the dnying oven and subsequently through thecooling chambers until rewound upon the roll 26 in finished condition.VObviously the dyed and cooled run of paper or other sheet material maybe cut into sheets or otherwise packaged after leaving the coolingchambers, if not desired in roll form.

The resulting product is a web of sheet material having a basic or bodycolor of uniform hue and tone but in which appear designs orconfigurations blendingtogether in a singularly striking and attractivemanner. In Fig. 5, illustrating a portion of the finished product, thehorizontal lines indicate a uniform color received from the dye. Theeffect` is particularly pleasing where metallic or lustrous coatingmaterials are included in the pre-applied designs or configurations, asabove disclosed, the same beingapplied vprior to the dyeing operation.The dye modifies the sheen of said coating materials, while stillpermitting them to show in or through the basic color, presentingpatches or mottled portions of lustrous and changing appearance as thelight may strike them differently. In addition 'the dye acts as apreservative coating or binder to/fix said metallic materialsv which arethus prevented from readily rubbing` off' from the surface of thefinished material. The decorative feature of said material is 'therebymade permanent while such as its -proneness to rub off and to soilcontacting objects, are obviated. Paper or other sheet material producedin accordance with my process above described is particularly useful forforming coverings, wrappers, and the like.

My invention is not limited to the embodiv paper suitable for covering,binding and` like purposes which comprises printing or otherwise formingon one4 or both surfaces of said web configurations in a metallic erlustrous coloring material optionally in com bination with otherconfigurations of one or more non-metallic colors contrasting with thecolor of the untreated paper, mounting said i congurated paper inposition for feeding, drawing the sanne out into a. web conducting saidwebv through a bathof dye differnary to packaging for storage orshipment.

In -testimony whereof,' I have signed my name to this specication.

THOMAS M. ATKINSON.

